Cancer Survivors Take Part in 'Relay for Life 2017' at Baptist Hospital

Hundreds of cancer survivors, along with their families and friends, took victory laps around the lake at Baptist Hospital during the 19^th Annual East Kendall Relay for Life. The event, created by the American Cancer Society (ACS), has raised nearly $5 billion for research, education, and programs and services for patients and caregivers worldwide.

At the East Kendall event, 59 teams joined in the relay, and about $215,000 were raised for the ACS during the daylong event.

This years’ event was the first to be held in front of the newly built Miami Cancer Institute, which officially opened in January. Michael Zinner, M.D., founding chief executive officer and executive medical director of Miami Cancer Institute and honorary chair for the East Kendal Relay for Life, expects that next year “hundreds more survivors will be here to partake in this wonderful event.”

(The Baptist Health News Team hears from Relay for Life and Miami Cancer Institute leaders about the impact of the annual event. Video by Steve Pipho.)

Grace Wang, M.D., a medical oncologist and sponsorship chair for the East Kendall Relay for Life, sponsored by Miami Cancer Institute, said she is “so excited to see so many survivors here get to celebrate their survivor celebration.”

During the evening, the survivors took one last lap around the lake as more than 3,000 luminaria burned in honor of cancer survivors and in remembrance of those who were taken by cancer.

The Baptist Health South Florida News team was there as the survivors were honored. Watch the video now.